A deep Syracuse Crunch blueline is about to offer head coach Rob Zettler even more lineup options as veteran Brendan Mikkelson looks ready to return from a broken foot.

Mikkelson, out since March 30, skated through his first full Crunch practice again on Wednesday, two days before the team will open its Eastern Conference quarterfinal against either Springfield or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He didn't appear to show any limitations.

"It's just depending on physical conditioning and how he feels in battles,'' Zettler said after practice. "He looks fine to me. He's been working his tail off. It's a real luxury for us to have those kinds of players on the sidelines.''

It will might also be a brain-teaser for Zettler. The team is now stocked with 10 healthy defensemen, meaning three or four must sit. Zettler said the stock answer would be to say he'll dress the players who give him the best chance to win, but the reality is not that simple.

"I could put a couple of different lineups out there that give us an equal chance to win,'' Zettler said. "It's going to be a really hard decision. It will be frustrating for them, because they want to be a part of it and play.''